When I think of Altura, what pops into my mind is a well-known brand providing kit that is reliable, acceptably durable and priced at the cheaper end of the market. In other words, it's for people like me - enthusiastic amateurs for whom cycling has not (yet) become an all-encompassing way of life involving the purchase of a full matching pro-team jersey with matching bib shorts. I'm sure that time will come.
So testing Altura's Podium jersey was a bit of a surprise - it has the close, hugging cut and fine design that you might expect from a boutique brand, and a price that is a bit higher than is associated with the make.
First things first - it looks great. I was testing the blue top with black and white trim. The elasticated arms have a lot of huggability, while it also has neat underarm meshing for when you're desperate for a bit of cooling breeze.
As a taller rider, my number one difficulty with tops is that they tend to ride up during a long ride, so I was really pleased that the Podium jersey has a silicon gripper at the hem.
The jersey felt good on - it is very elastic, much more so than on other jerseys I have tried, which meant it hugged the body tightly - it is clearly designed to give that Italian look. I went with a medium, which was fine, but I would say if in doubt over the size, perhaps try on a size up before you purchase.
I like the idea of its five pockets, with two situated on the side of the jersey and three on the back. There is also a small zip pocket big enough for my essentials - a £10 note, my credit card and the spare house key.
The front zip is tiny, which is pleasing on the eye, but I was keen to put it to the track test - could I zip it up without coming a cropper?
I decided to remove the variable of traffic and put the jersey through its paces at the Olympic Park road track, just next to the Olympic velodrome in east London. It is a great spot for trying to maintain a steady pace in London.
Having donned the top and headed out of the door, my main issue with the jersey was immediately evident. It may not be designed for a ride in the UK in May. The weather was bright, but not warm - classic UK springtime - and it was windy. The slight extra length in the arms was welcome thanks to the weather, though it would play havoc with any cyclists attempting to establish the classic cycling suntan line.
The Olympic Park road track has a funny dynamic where wind can be funnelled into one direction. That was the case on test day, meaning the top's warming qualities were tested to the limit when I hit the wind tunnel portion of the one mile circuit.
It was chilly at first, but after a lap or two I soon warmed up. During the 30 or so miles I completed, I tested the top's features. The side pockets are actually quite deep and narrow, and I'm not convinced how useful they are in practice on a ride. But they are useful for carrying bits and bobs like a mini pump - things you need with you, but don't need to access while in the saddle.
The main three pockets on the back were fine and housed my two packs of jelly babies with commendable tolerance. The zipped pocket (a must for me) seems very secure. As for the front zip, I couldn't zip it one-handed (always useful if you can), but could easily do it with two on a short straight. The jersey also has reflective detailing and an audio port - two features which, from a safety perspective, probably cancel each other out.
I haven't washed the top enough times to know how durable the elastic qualities of the arms are, but so far so good.
To sum up then, this is a great looking top and something a bit different from a brand with a good reputation. All I would say is you may have to wait until the summer months before wearing it for a long ride!
Altura Podium Jersey, £59.99 from Zyro.co.uk
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